15 Gifts Under $25 for New Dads

by Julia Warren

Updated on November 19, 2017

Instead of getting a new dad something very cliché — like a tie, grilling accessories or sports equipment — buy him a gift that he can actually use to make his brand-new life as a father much more enjoyable. Those first few months are hard (no point in sugar-coating it!), and Dad needs energy, convenience, entertainment and a few laughs the most. Here are 15 presents that will give him a boost without breaking your budget.

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In This Article

1 / 15A Book of Dad Jokes

1 / 15A Book of Dad Jokes

2 / 15A Picture of the Fam

3 / 15A Place for All His Stuff

4 / 15A Daily Journal

5 / 15A Cool Tech Toy

6 / 15A Braggy Mug

7 / 15Coffee On-the-Go

8 / 15An Insulated Mug

9 / 15An Instruction Book

10 / 15A Stress Buster

11 / 15An Insta-Perfect Outfit

12 / 15A Kitchen Tool

13 / 15Awesome Baby Gear

14 / 15A Selfie Kit

15 / 15A Handprint Maker

A Book of Dad Jokes

Dad Jokes: Bad Jokes and Puns Inspired by Dads!

Why We Love It

Becoming a dad means that you also automatically agree to become an official ambassador of the dad joke (It’s written in the dad handbook). And since dad jokes walk a fine line between being funny and embarrassingly corny, new dads need a manual to help them perfect the art form. And what an art it is! Dad jokes balance obvious punch lines with delightful surprise and make the whole family simultaneously laugh and roll their eyes. Plus, they’re great for embarrassing kids, which is a time-honored dad tradition. Induct a new dad you know into the club by gifting him this book. Soon you’ll be hearing gems like, “What do you call a knight who is afraid to fight? Sir Render!”

A Picture of the Fam

Custom Family Portrait

Why We Love It

One of the best ways to celebrate an addition to a new dad’s family is a custom family portrait. And this isn’t your typical professional studio portrait: Just send in a photo of dad and his family and the artist will create renderings that closely match each person’s face — even the dog! For under $25, you can choose between a print that is 4 x 6 inches or 5 x 7 inches. Dad can hang it in his office to keep his family close during work hours or put it up at home so any guests — and there are plenty with a new baby — can enjoy it.

A Place for All His Stuff

Phone Wallet Case

Why We Love It

Dad’s already going to be carrying around a lot of baby stuff from now on, so he doesn’t need to add one more thing to the list. Get him this phone case-wallet combo to make sure he has a little extra room in his pocket. The case comes with a slot that can fit three cards — like IDs or credit cards — and cash. It hangs slightly past the phone’s screen to protect it from shattering if Dad puts the phone face down and also comes with scratch-resistant screen protector. The case fits the iPhone 6 or 6s, but there are cases available for other iPhone models too.

A Daily Journal

One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book

Why We Love It

The older you get, the more time starts speeding by. And becoming a parent means the years begin passing at lightning speed. One second you have a tiny baby, the next she’s off to college. Make sure a new dad can capture all those memories with this unique journal. Each page has five spaces where he can write down his thoughts and memories for that date over the course of five years. Dads will love looking back over the years to see what milestones or mundane events they recorded each day.

A Cool Tech Toy

Google Cardboard VR Glasses

Why We Love It

Just because someone becomes a new dad doesn’t mean he leaves all his former hobbies behind. If the dad you know like video games or movies, give him these budget-friendly virtual reality glasses to allow him to enjoy some relaxation time immersed in another world. He just needs to download a VR app and secure his phone to the front of the glasses. The glasses fit any smartphone that ranges from four to six inches and hold it in place with a piece of Velcro. And because the material is mostly cardboard, the glasses are light and comfortable to wear (plus, there’s a nose cushion).

A Braggy Mug

Dad Life Mug

Why We Love It

Dads love bragging about being dads, especially if they just became one for the first time. Instead of getting him something expected like a “#1 dad” shirt, get him this mug. This “Dad Life” mug is for the cool dad who wants everyone to know he just became a father. The mug features an image of a dad and baby fist bumping (how sweet) and says, “The Best Life,” “EST 2017.” You can customize the year based on when the baby was born. What new dad wouldn’t want to drink his coffee out of this great gift? It’s a guaranteed win.

Coffee On-the-Go

Ready-to-Brew Drip Coffee

Why We Love It

Obviously, new parents aren’t getting a lot of sleep, so caffeine becomes a necessity in those first few months of baby’s life. You could get a new dad a fancy coffee machine with all the bells and whistles, but you might just be adding more work to his already hectic morning routine. Grab of box of these ready-to-brew coffee pouches. They’re filled with coffee sourced from Thailand and only require Dad to provide his own hot water. He just needs to anchor the pouch to his mug and allow hot water to filter through it three to five times to get the perfect brew. It’s that simple.

An Insulated Mug

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug

Why We Love It

A really great travel mug is worth its weight in gold—and this one gets rave reviews. This stainless steel mug uses vacuum insulation to keep drinks hot or cold for up to six hours. The tightly sealed lid has a lock to prevent spills if you throw it in a bag. And better yet, the lid can be flipped open with one hand, so dads can hold baby with one arm and enjoy a coffee pick-me-up with the other. The wide mouth fits ice cubes for summertime refreshments and the slim design allows parents to fit the mug in cramped spaces (like a packed diaper bag).

An Instruction Book

Why We Love It

Unfortunately, babies don’t come straight home from the hospital with a manual. We can dream, though, right? With this book, new dads can get answers for many of the question they have during the first year of their babies’ lives (with a lot of laughs and entertainment mixed in). The manual reads like the instruction booklet that comes with a new piece of IKEA furniture: there are schematic illustrations with guided steps. Dads can learn how to swaddle, what to do in emergency situations, how to handle vaccinations and more. They can read the book cover to cover or use it as a reference manual when specific scenarios pop up.

A Stress Buster

Doodles in Outer Space

Why We Love It

Adult coloring books are definitely in right now. They can help new dads relax when they have a few free minutes, since coloring is so mindless. Dad is going to be running on very little sleep in the first few months and activities that use a lot of brainpower will feel like the opposite of rest. This particular book is great for the guy that still loves his Saturday morning cartoons and gets excited when a new sci-fi show premieres. There are 40 different designs that feature doodles of imaginative extraterrestrial planets, strange creatures, rockets and odd flying contraptions. Each page is single sided so there’s no risk of the colors bleeding through to the next design.

An Insta-Perfect Outfit

Matching Dad and Baby Sunglasses Shirts

Why We Love It

Search on Etsy and you’ll come across hundreds of matching dad-and-baby shirts, but this set might just be the coolest one available. Get it for the dad that likes to lounge outside in the sun with his little one. The set includes a shirt for dad and an onesie for baby that will make both look like they have a pair of sleek Aviators hanging off their collars. It’s great for someone that doesn’t like to wear low-key t-shirts designs.

A Kitchen Tool

Gropener: One-Handed Grab Opener for Bottles

Why We Love It

A multitasking dad is the best kind of dad and this bottle opener allows him to pop open a beer with one hand and hold his baby with the other (safely, of course). Both left-handed and right-handed dads can use the opener and it has a magnet that holds onto the bottle’s cap or allows parents to keep it glued to the fridge. Choose from eight different colors — all $20 and under — and pick one that matches your dad friend’s style.

Awesome Baby Gear

Skip Hop Grab-and-Go Stroller Organizer

Why We Love It

New dads might not be putting stroller accessories as high on their wish lists as, say, an Apple Watch, but once they try this well-designed caddy, they won't know what they did without it. The insulated neoprene material stretches to hold coffee cups, snacks, pacifiers and Dad's own phone and wallet. The front zipped pouch comes off to become a wristlet and includes an opening for headphones so new dads can stroll and listen to music at the same time. And the whole thing can go into the washing machine in case there are any spills.

A Selfie Kit

Smartphone Flexible Tripod and Selfie Kit

Why We Love It

Having a new baby gives a new dad a lot of opportunities to take photos, but it's no fun if he's always behind the camera. This selfie kit allows him to set up his phone to take plenty of family photos that include the whole gang. The small tripod has flexible legs and a swiveling ball joint to help him get the perfect angle and the universal mount fits phones of any size. The kit also comes with a Bluetooth selfie remote so Dad can snap a picture once everyone is positioned; no one has to feel rushed by a timer. He can even wrap the tripod's legs around a fence or a pole if the whole family is on the go and there is no stable surface available.

A Handprint Maker

Little Hippo Baby Handprint Kit

Why We Love It

Most dads would love to have a handprint keepsake to remember when their little ones weren't so grown up, but many of the kits require a mold. Dealing with a wiggly infant and cleaning up a messy mold is more likely to make a few bad memories for a new dad. Keep things easy for him with this simple kit. It comes with three packs of non-toxic white clay, a mini roller, and a solid wood frame. Dads roll out the clay, press their baby’s foot and hand into it, and let it dry completely. Once it’s dry, they can put the frame over it and add two of their favorite photos of baby to complete the look.

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